Lawrence Stroll’s investment in Aston Martin is hard to overlook, especially considering how little it delivered last season. The 2026 rule changes could be a pivotal moment for the team’s future.
Stroll has poured significant resources into the team, but 2025 did not offer much return on that investment.
Fernando Alonso managed to get as much as he could out of the AMR25, while Lance Stroll went through an eight-race stretch without scoring any points before Abu Dhabi.
Both drivers’ contracts are up at the end of 2026, and there are already rumours connecting Aston Martin with several big names around the paddock.
Max Verstappen would naturally be their top target, given his status in the sport.
But if Charles Leclerc grows more disillusioned with Ferrari and looks for a change, Aston Martin could become an appealing option.
Ted Kravitz weighs in on Charles Leclerc’s future and Aston Martin links
Ted Kravitz, speaking on The F1 Show, brought up a point about Ferrari that some might have missed: “Let’s not forget about Charles Leclerc.
“Something else that happened this year was that his manager, Nicolas Todt, said just after the summer break, started talking about, well, it’s time for Charles to be in a car that’s worthy of the championship and potentially looking elsewhere.
“Even though I think he signed for Ferrari to the end of 2028. So it could be Leclerc leaving Ferrari before [Lewis] Hamilton does.
Karun Chandhok replied: He’s at his peak, isn’t he? He’s at an age and a time of his career where he’s now got the experience. He’s always had the speed.
“And he’s in that category with a George Russell, a Lando Norris, and an Oscar Piastri.
“That next rung just below Max Verstappen, who could all win the world championship in the right car if they had the opportunity.”
Kravitz went on: “He has been brilliant this year hasn’t he?
“I mean, we’ll do our rankings a bit later, but I think he’s made my top five.
“He’s been great. He’s ready to win a championship like Russell. Where is he going to go?
“Potentially, maybe if Aston Martin with a Newey car and a Honda engine in a couple of years does do well and doesn’t get Verstappen, then I would put Leclerc in there.”
Why some believe Charles Leclerc is the only real challenger to Max Verstappen
Leclerc has been with Ferrari for seven seasons now, but in that time, he has only picked up race wins in three of them.
He finished well ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the 2025 standings, and that should not be too surprising given his track record against other world champions he has teamed up with.
It does not seem like Leclerc is pushing for an immediate move away from Ferrari, but rumours have still linked him to several rival teams recently.
His name keeps coming up as a possible fit for McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes and Aston Martin, as questions persist about whether Ferrari can deliver another title-contending car.
If Ferrari get the 2026 rule changes right, though, those doubts will fade quickly. But if they miss again, Leclerc may find it harder to keep turning down other offers.
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